Tainted spinach may harbor very virulent E. coli strain

SeattlePI/AP ^ | 9/20/06 | ANDREW BRIDGES

[stlnative]

FDA Statement on Foodborne E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak in Spinach Update: Tuesday, September 19, 2006

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will continue to provide the public with regular updates on the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak each day until further notice.

Case Reports To date, 131 cases of illness due to E. coli infection have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including 20 cases of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), 66 hospitalizations, and one death. Illnesses continue to be reported to CDC. This is considered to be an ongoing investigation.

States Affected There are 21 confirmed states: California, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

[ozzymandus]

My personal, unasked for personal opinion is that anybody who eats raw spinach deserves the runs.

[stlnative]

well aren't you sweet!
I guess they deserve to have kidney failure also.

[ozzymandus]

Well, I'm smart enough to stay away from raw spinach. I didn't say anything about their kidneys, but if that's the way your mind works, that's your problem.

[Global2010]

Any bagged lettuce or Cali grown lettuce is probably not selling to well rigt now either.

[stlnative]

Well it is not just spinach. It has been found inside other leafy veggies in the past, including green onions. So in your mind anyone who eats raw spinach, raw lettuce, or raw green onions deserves to get diarrhea or should I say e.coli?

Or is it that you don't like raw spinach and want everyone to know this?

[ozzymandus]

Jeeze. When did I say anything about lettuce or onions? I'm starting to think you need some e.coli just to loosen up your sphincter. (That's a JOKE, OK??)

[Dallas59]

Just buy cans....5 FOR $1.00!!!!

[stlnative]

The reason I posted the article is not to rehash that people should not be eating raw spinach at this time (unless you grow it on your own) - but that this strain of e.coli (O157:H7) seems to more potent than it usually is during an outbreak.

[stlnative]

Ok... I see this is a joke to you. You just felt the need to let everyone know that you do not like to eat raw spinach and because YOU don't like it and that other folks who do like it should get diarrhea?

[ozzymandus]

Get over yourself.

[stlnative]

see post 9

[LukeL]

I hear you, raw spinach can turn a great salad into a terrible one. No amount of dressing can coverup the horrible taste:)

[ozzymandus]

Careful, you'll be accused of wanting people to die!

[stlnative]

Get over myself? - I am just trying to understand your point of view and why you think people should get diarrhea when they eat raw spinach. Instead you keep bouncing around the questions without answering them. Is it that difficult for you to answer the questions?

[Bittersweetmd]

I learned a long time ago "no body cares pal". By that I mean don't even try to defend or explain yourself unless asked. :) Just a bit of hard earned advice.

[ozzymandus]

I think raw spinach is gross. Why are you so excited about this? This story is already a week old, so you're a little late with your chicken little act. Lighten up and get over yourself. That's all I have to say. I apologize if I offended you, but you seem to take yourself way too seriously.

[stlnative]

So your post is because you don't like raw spinach. Why didn't you just say that to start with? See I thought you giving me "crap" because I posted a thread about the e.coli spinach breakout and that this time around it more potent than usual. Is it not ok to post threads about spinach now of FR?

Well it nice to know that you don't like raw spinach and surely if I ever have you over for dinner I'll make sure not serve you raw spinach that I have grown myself.

Next time just come out and say you don't like raw spinach. It is ok that you don't, but please know I would never wish for you to get the "runs" because you like cooked spinach when I don't.

;-) goodnight

[stlnative]

I guess I am just tired of the immature thread responses on FR or the users who think they can control what subjects are posted on FR. If someone does not want to see another thread about something that is still in the news then they should just slide by the thread and go to another.

If the mods do not want this posted on FR then they will remove it. I posted in the correct area, it is not in Breaking News or Front Page News, it is in Extended News.

[backhoe]

I appreciate your posting this- and I'm forwarding it to Mrs.B, who works where there is a commercial kitchen. The information is important to get out.